git:20260529.7c05904 to git:20261004.4b0ddb9

---

name: citations

description: "Use when auditing metadata, crawlability, structured data, or indexability related to Cite authoritative external sources. Verify the rendered HTML and HTTP response rather than relying only on source files."

metadata:

category: seo

priority: medium

difficulty: beginner

estimatedTime: "10"

source: frontendchecklist.io

---

# Cite authoritative external sources

Citing authoritative sources is a key trust signal for E-E-A-T, demonstrating that your content is well-researched and grounded in verifiable information.

## Quick Reference

- Link to reputable, high-authority websites to validate factual claims, data, or quotes

- Ensure citations are highly relevant and provide extra value to the reader

- Use descriptive anchor text when linking to external research, studies, or official sources

## Check

Review the content for any factual claims that should be backed up with a link to an authoritative source.

## Fix

Add external links to reputable websites (e.g., .gov, .edu, or industry leaders) to support your data points.

## Explain

Explain how citing external sources contributes to the 'Trustworthiness' pillar of Google's E-E-A-T framework.

## Code Review

Review metadata generation, rendered HTML, structured data, and response headers related to Cite authoritative external sources. Flag exact routes or templates where search-facing output violates the rule, and describe how to verify the final page output.

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For full implementation details, code examples, and framework-specific guidance,

see `references/rule.md`.